Several advocacy organizations have scheduled a march July 17 to protest Pittsburgh-based UPMC's $2 billion plan to build three specialty hospitals in Pittsburgh, according to WESA 90.5.
The march is scheduled ahead of the Pittsburgh city council's public meeting, during which officials plan to discuss UPMC's proposed vision for the trio of hospitals.
The coalition of organizations claims that instead of spending $2 billion for specialty facilities, UPMC should use the funds to expand treatment in areas like opioid addiction, diabetes, mental health and primary care, the report states.
"We need to think about the health challenges that people in our community actually have, and make sure that when UPMC investing its money, it's addressing those and not just high-cost specialty procedures that would primarily be used by people outside of Pittsburgh," Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy, interim executive director of Pittsburgh UNITED, which is part of the coalition of organizations protesting UPMC's plans, told the publication.
UPMC announced its intent to build the trio of hospitals in November 2017. The health system also plans to work with Microsoft on the facilities' construction.
Officials said at the time of the announcement they aim to open UPMC Vision and Rehabilitation Hospital in 2020 and UPMC Hillman Cancer Hospital in 2022. It is unclear when construction will be completed on the third facility, the UPMC Heart and Transplant Hospital.